Question

what happens to the biodiversity of a period following a mass extinction event? 5 points table 1 periods are shorter time spans within eras. there are numerous periods in every era. the asterisk () denotes periods in which mass extinction events occurred. your answer

Explanation:

After a mass extinction event, many ecological niches are left vacant. Over time, new species evolve to fill these niches through adaptive radiation. For example, after the Cretaceous - Paleogene (K - Pg) mass extinction that wiped out non - avian dinosaurs, mammals underwent significant diversification. The surviving organisms have the opportunity to evolve and occupy the empty ecological roles, leading to an increase in biodiversity as new species emerge and diversify.

Answer:

Following a mass extinction event, biodiversity generally increases over time. This is because the surviving species undergo adaptive radiation, evolving to fill the ecological niches left vacant by the extinct species, leading to the emergence and diversification of new species.